The 2007 New York Yankees season script started a new chapter on Saturday with the much heralded debut of rotation savior Roger Clemens. Amid countless standing ovations, Clemens made his way to the mound just four years removed from his last service as a Yankees starter. Facing a familiar National League team in the Pittsburgh Pirates, Clemens settled in after yielding a first inning run to pitch two scoreless innings before giving up another two runs in the fourth on a two-out two run double. But behind with the rebirth of the Yankees offense, Clemens was able to shut down the Pirates after getting a lead, retiring his last 7 batters before departing after the sixth inning. He finished his day limiting the Pirates to three runs on five hits and seven strikeouts in a performance that was more than enough as the Yankees tacked on another five runs for the bullpen.

The Rocket was officially back with the spotlight shining on baseball’s biggest stage, as Clemens more than delivered on expectations earning his first win of the season and 78th as a New York Yankee. Although Joe Torre set a pitch count of around 90, Clemens threw 108 through 6 innings, a positive sign that his health appeared to be back to normal. With his seven strikeouts, Clemens jumped ahead of Randy Johnson, reclaiming second place on the all-time list in what will likely be a season long battle. The win marked the 349th of his career, good for 8th all-time. With roughly 20-25 starts, it is a possibility that Roger could jump into fifth place on the all-time list this season if he can get to 364. But records aside, his main motivation of the season is to bring the World Series back to New York and deliver the rings that haven’t been on Yankee fingers in seven years. And with the Yankees stringing together their fifth straight win and eighth out of their last ten and now two games under .500, look for New York to make a midseason run back to the top of the standings on the back of their 44 year old savior. Welcome back Roger Clemens!

(6 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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